WAYS TO ECONOMISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 8

WAYS TO ECONOMISE.

DIRECTOR'S SUGGESTIONS,

LESS FOR OUTDOOR RELIEF.

Hospital boards, which are expected to co-operate with the Government in the reduction of 'expenditure, should not balance their budgets by increasing levies, or meet a deficiency by a bank overdraft, says the Director-General of Health. Dr. M. H. Watt, in the course of a circular letter containing suggestions of ways in which boards may economise. Dr. Watt suggested that each board should .appoint a special committee, which should invite suggestions from all controlling officers for economies that mi«ht be effected in their respective departments. For example, the medical superintendent might be able to effect savings in the use and purchase of drugs, bv reducing the average days stay patients. The matron might be able < n effect economies in staff personnel nnd in the use of dressings, and the engineer might suggest means of reducing the cost of fuel and light. "Considerable savings may also be possible by recasting the diet scale while retaining its present dietetic value, Dr. yVatb «ays. "Further economies also may

be achieved in the buying and use of general supplies. Where permanent maintenance tradesmen, such as carpenters and painters, are employed by boards, the question of having maintenance work done by outside contract should be seriouslv considered.

"As salaries and wages form such a large proportion of hospital expenditure, the committee should satisfy . itself thoroughly that the various institutions are not overstaffed in any respect." Outdoor Relief. With reference to charitable aid, the circular states that admissions to old people's homes should be reduced to a minimum, and outdoor relief should be administered with the greatest care. Estimates should not show estimated increased expenditure for outdoor relief, as the Unemployment Board, to some extent, should relieve the boards of expenditure in that direction. It is suggested that provision for unemployment relief should be about 90 per cent of that made last year. "On the receipts side of the boards' estimates, patients' payments and charitable aid recoveries should not be reduced this year, but special efforts should be directed toward an increase in these items. Boards should not hesitate to increase their scale of fees to approximate the cost. Such an increase will not prevent a board from remitting fees in genuine cases of inability to pay, but there can be no justification for treating those who are able to pay at less than cost."